Infrastructure Key to Peace

Traffic gridlock at the Gudele - Munuki road in Juba

July 29, 2010 (JUBA) — The research jointly conducted by the Southern Sudan Peace Commission (SSPC), Centre for Peace and Development Studies (CPDS) and the London School of Economics Development Studies Institute (DESTIN) has strongly  recommended initiation of tangible peace benefits if peace is to be achieved in Sudan.

The report also identified the process of decentralisation which has caused division and tribalism of administrative units through the creation of ethnic fiefdoms as one of the obstacles towards peace.

“We recommend the addressing of the lack of clarity of political structures and development approaches and putting into practice an ongoing and inclusive commitment to make peace building a long term, accountable and multi-faceted endeavor”, reads the report titled: Southern Sudan at Odds with Itself.

In their findings, the researchers indicated that despite the great achievements, neither the Government of Southern Sudan nor the international agencies working in South Sudan have achieved what they set out to do during the interim period as serious shortcomings have emerged that need to be addressed.

The report also points a finger to the Sudanese government over the persistent conflicts in the south.

“Theories put forth by respondents from local government, army or civilians range from blaming Khartoum for bringing Uganda’s Lord Resistance Army to Western Bahr el Ghazal, to assumptions that the recent increase in cattle-raiding is part of a northern strategy of destabilisation”, the report states.

“The second most common explanation is that ‘tribal hatred’ drives local violence. The ‘tribal’ label is applied to anything from family disputes, clashes within sub-clan of the same tribes to attack by criminal gangs or marauding former soldiers”, adds the report.

According to the report factors that contribute to the increase in tensions and acts of aggression include the failure of delivering services commonly referred to as a ‘peace dividend’, combined with an intense political contest down to the local level and an absence of institutions with the capacity to control violence.

“The process of establishing institutions to control local violence presents opportunities for gaining positions of power and authority”, states the report presented last week in Juba by the Policy Advisor for Pact Sudan Dina Parmer.

The report further adds that although there are situations in which cattle-raiding, competition over pastures, or claims over land were found to be associated with tribal groupings that was by no means always the case.

“What appeared to be a localised dispute was usually on closer examination found to have links with various kinds of political grudges, government failures or resources disputes which had little to do with assumed division between tribes. Cattle raiding is mostly carried out by young men based at cattle camps who appear to have minimal respect for either governmental or traditional authorities. It is said this is because they are unschooled, grew up as orphans, have no employment, are just used to fighting, or know that that nothing will happen to them even if they are caught in the act”, reads the report.